In November, I challenged myself to complete Slow Cooker Sundays as well as trying new recipes from my cookbooks. Through that process, I have come across a couple of great recipes (and a few not so great). I enjoy completing this “Tried it, Loved it” series because I want to create a record of recipes that I have personally attempted and enjoyed. This guarantees that the recipes are one: relatively easy to make for an unskilled cook and two: super delicious!

Here are the recipes that I tried and loved in November:

Crock Pot Butternut Squash

This recipe from Cook Eat Paleo was not so much a recipe, but an easier way to cook butternut squash. Though I have discovered the joys of eating squash, I also have discovered the hassle and difficulty that it can be to prepare. This recipe allowed me to skip the torture of cutting the squash. It was literally as easy as throwing the whole squash into the crock pot. Find the recipe here.

Mashed Butternut Squash with Maple Syrup and Cinnamon

For this recipe from Our Heritage of Health, I used the above crock pot method of butternut squash cooking. The crockpot method yields a butternut squash that is already super tender and perfect for mashing. I made this dish for our office Thanksgiving potluck and it was a hit. The texture and flavor reminded me of sweet potato dishes that I often request during the holidays. Click here for the recipe.

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash with Turkey Meat Sauce

I loved this method of cooking spaghetti squash from the Magical Slow Cooker. It made for a filling dish that was simultaneously light and different leave me with that “too full” dragging feeling in the afternoon. The one warning that I do have about this dish is to be cautious about your slow cooker size. My slow cooker was not large enough to accommodate the two face down halves of the spaghetti squash. I ended up turning one of them sideways and it didn’t seem to affect the quality of the meal. Find the recipe here.

Pro Tip: Buy slow cooker liners!! They make cleanup a breeze for some of the messier recipes! Really helped me make it through Slow Cooker Sundays.

Can’t wait to cook up some more tasty recipes this month! For behind the scenes cooking action, make sure to check out my Instagram stories @ambitiouslycierra.